Living and working in a buzzing hub like London can often mean that the lines between work and life become blurry — especially when hybrid working lets employees log on from their sofas and do laundry in between meetings.
But it doesn’t have to be this way: balancing the two while staying productive and healthy is possible under the right circumstances.
Here’s how two founders are managing it at Riverstone Heights in east London, a space which offers renters a place to call home while helping them strike a work-life balance.
The importance of space
Ben Debono, founder of digital marketing agency Bobo Digital, and Giuseppe ‘Sepps’ Federici, a content creator known for his plant-based food videos and founder of Sepps Eats Ltd, currently live and work in Way of Life’s Riverstone Heights.
Situated just north of London’s Canary Wharf financial district, it is a community of design-led homes in Bromley-by-Bow which combines 204 hospitality-inspired flats with coworking spaces and in-demand amenities.
It’s crucial for me to keep my work and relaxation spaces separate
Here, the clear specificity of the co-working spaces and living spaces keep busy founders from blurring boundaries.
“The shared working space at Riverstone Heights has been a game-changer for my work-life balance. I try to get most of my work done there so that when I’m back in my apartment, I can actually switch off,” Debono says. “It’s crucial for me to keep my work and relaxation spaces separate.”
Sowgol Zarinchang, managing director of Way of Life, says that the company hopes to provide its members with “high-quality and flexible living spaces that support work-life balance and busy lifestyles”.
Variety is the spice of life
The choice of several spots to pick from through the course of a workday — from booths for private calls, to sunny terraces with fresh air — is a perk that Federici finds helpful to maintaining balance and productivity.
The areas are also always tidy which helps a lot in keeping a clear mind
“I sometimes struggle to sit in the same chair or at the same table for hours on end, so if I have a long video I need to edit, I’ll switch locations during my break,” he says. “Sometimes I’ll go on the terrace for some sun, then into the dining room for a more relaxed environment. etc.”
“We knew there was a gap in the market for thoughtfully designed homes that could help today’s creatives and entrepreneurs find space where they could run their businesses,” said Gavin Chetty, creative director for Way of Life.
There are also benefits to having a coworking space that is managed by the property, rather than trying to work at a home office desk. “The areas are also always tidy which helps a lot in keeping a clear mind,” adds Federici. “There’s nothing worse than being surrounded by clutter and mess when you have work to do.”
When the working day is done, the building offers somewhere to unwind without having to jump on the tube. “It’s great that they can also transform into great social spaces, helping with balancing social life,” says Federici. Options include a roof terrace with panoramic views across London, complete with a rooftop kitchen, casual dining areas with BBQs and a pizza oven.
Going anti-social
A building can’t solve every work-life issue, though. Not being able to switch off and feeling like you always have to be ready and available is often cited as a cause for founder burnout. And for Federici, it can be extra hard to walk away from a screen to get some distance.
I find it hard to ‘switch off’ as my job is always on
“With my job essentially requiring me to be on social media a lot, and therefore my phone, the line between work and life is a lot more blurred than a traditional 9-5 office job in finance for example,” he says. “I find it hard to ‘switch off’ as my job is always on.”
Federici finds digital tools helpful to keep his leisure time from become an endless scrolling session. “I have an app called Opal on my phone which limits my time on social media and makes it harder to bypass than the standard Apple limit,” he says.
But for others, it’s less social media and more anti-social timetables that pose a threat to unwinding.
“Balancing work and life since moving to London has been a bit of a struggle, primarily because my agency and most of my clients are still based in Australia,” says Debono. “The time difference means I often have to start my day at the crack of dawn, around 4:30 am, to catch those overlapping hours.
“It’s not ideal, but it’s necessary for now,” he adds. “That said, I’m actively looking to expand my client base here in the UK. The goal is to find a better balance and give myself more reasonable working hours — and maybe even get some proper sleep!”
After a long day toiling in the office space at Riverstone Heights, those all-important hours of sleep are likely to come easily.
Riverstone Heights represents the best of modern living, designed with busy, career-focussed renters in mind, where residents can find work life balance with thoughtfully designed homes and amenities. Find out more here.
